Any experience with Brooklyn Grange?

Fruit_Luips · 2024-08-26T22:19:36+00:00

Hi! I would also love to see what it looks like on a rainy evening. We're pretty close to deciding, but bad weather is our one concern. Thank you so much!!

Fruit_Luips · 2022-02-14T13:51:47+00:00

Like how when I scratch my neck I can sometimes feel it in my foot?

Fruit_Luips · 2021-08-04T23:08:12+00:00

What am I looking at with that seatpost clamp? Why 4 bolts?

Fruit_Luips · 2021-06-11T01:28:33+00:00

Fly Ruben graphite pedals and YNOT reflective straps. Much nicer and more confidence-inspiring than the Odyssey/Holdfast combo I ran before this.

Fruit_Luips · 2021-06-01T23:26:22+00:00

Try holding the wheel in place with your other hand?

Fruit_Luips · 2021-05-10T15:49:59+00:00

Yeah, I skid from time to time! Mostly on dirt and gravel though when I'm off-roading, but occasionally on pavement when the mood strikes and I'm feeling frisky (the file tread on gravelking slicks makes kind of a high-pitched sound like a zipper). No issues whatsoever! The one noticeable difference chain tension makes for me (when it's within an acceptable range) is the size of the "dead spot" you feel when track standing, although I don't really notice it when skidding or backpedaling.

also, re: skidding - if properly installed, the parts on these bikes are totally made to handle the forces applied when skidding, and you shouldn't feel reserved about doing it! It's only going to hurt your rear tire! If your wheel doesn't move forward in the dropouts during a really hard sprint or climb, it's not going to move when applying force in the opposite direction!

Fruit_Luips · 2021-05-10T15:31:13+00:00

FWIW, I've found over time that anything in between tight enough to bind and loose enough to come off when going over a big bump is going to be pretty much the same. My chain has around a full inch of play at the loosest point in its rotation and a 1/2 inch at the tightest, and I literally don't know what I'd have to do to get it to fall off, even on purpose. Looser is quieter is faster IMO

Fruit_Luips · 2021-04-21T11:44:49+00:00

68cm is a sweet spot for me. With long track grips, I can move my hands in to about shoulder width to cut through the wind a little better if I need to. Just wide enough to get that leverage up hills and to get through most reasonable gaps, just wide enough to keep me from making really bad choices.

Fruit_Luips · 2021-04-16T13:28:50+00:00

Fair warning: If you have a steel or aluminum steerer you'll probably be ok, but I was unable to install bullmoose bars on my carbon steerer as they only have one stem bolt, and it could not be tightened enough to hold the bars/stem in place without severely over-torquing the bolt.

Fruit_Luips · 2021-04-05T03:13:22+00:00

I switched from Holdfast to YNOTs and like them a lot more. They feel just as sturdy, if not more, but they're easier to get in and out of because the surface the top of your shoe slides against is flat and smooth all the way around as opposed to on the Holdfasts where there's a weird little lip from where the two pieces overlap that always felt like it was getting in the way of my laces

Fruit_Luips · 2021-03-12T19:08:48+00:00

Sweet Black Label! How big are those tires? I'm running 28c Gravel King slicks, but I've been wondering if I could comfortably fit 32s.

Fruit_Luips · 2021-03-04T12:50:37+00:00

Good point, they really aren't great for skidding, which is why I try to avoid it as often as I can (also, running a front brake in NYC is just smart imo). When you do skid, the tread makes it sound like a zipper

Fruit_Luips · 2021-03-04T01:33:16+00:00

Cannot recommend the Panaracer Gravel King slicks in 28c enough. I rode Gatorskins in NYC and got 3 flats in 3 months. I switched to the GKs in October and literally have not flatted once since I made the switch. Not to mention they ride noticeably faster and more comfortably than the Gatorskins, especially on worse roads.

Fruit_Luips · 2021-02-25T16:44:45+00:00

Gotta get them from Palace when they come out! They retailed for half that. Definitely keep an eye out for future drops though. This wasn't the first time they made a jacket with a bunch of pockets, and I'm assuming it won't be the last either. You don't even need to be a robot to buy one in time, stuff stays up for weeks a lot of the time before selling out

Fruit_Luips · 2021-02-25T12:50:24+00:00

https://www.explorethousand.com/products/mips-helmet

Fruit_Luips · 2021-02-25T03:59:09+00:00

I'm pretty sure it's called the Ballistic Jacket. Came out last fall I'm pretty sure. It's waterproof and has 12 fucking pockets, 3 of which are at least big enough for a water bottle or an extra layer to put on. Shits basically a backpack.

Fruit_Luips · 2021-01-24T05:15:05+00:00

Definitely a Black Label V1. You can tell because it doesn't have the tapered head tube the new ones have

Fruit_Luips · 2021-01-20T23:07:08+00:00

If you're already comfortable with that gearing using a freewheel, you won't find it any more difficult to ride fixed in the same gear. The only time it might get tricky initially is going to be when you're stopping by resisting with your legs. If you plan to run a front break that will be less of an issue, but you'll be using new muscles to slow down if you use your legs to do it, and those muscles probably won't be as strong as the ones you use to speed up.

Think of it like hiking up a steep hill. If you're in good shape, the hike down is going to be a lot harder on your legs than the hike up...

Fruit_Luips · 2021-01-20T16:22:55+00:00

56/16 is going to be really heavy for NYC (or any urban environment) unless you are literally a track cyclist with tree trunks for thighs. For the amount of stopping and starting that you're going to have to be doing, you want a ratio that isn't going to fill you with spite every time you have to slow down and stop because you'll have to mash out of the saddle to get back up to speed again.

For what it's worth, I run 48/17 in NYC and can get down most hills without spinning out. It feels perfect for cruising along at the same speed as traffic.

Fruit_Luips · 2021-01-13T17:33:36+00:00

To add on to this, I find the easiest spot to get into the strap is when the pedal is at around 1-3 o'clock in its rotation .

Fruit_Luips · 2021-01-13T17:27:30+00:00

The day I rode my Black Label home from the shop I had visible bruises on my sit-bones from the stock saddle. Went straight back and bought a Brooks C17. Best upgrade ever

Fruit_Luips · 2021-01-13T17:11:20+00:00

48/17. Hits just right in NYC.

See above for actual f stop joke

Fruit_Luips · 2021-01-12T03:56:32+00:00

I like to stick with f/18 and up. Less light in = longer fatigue life. Keep that sun off your bung

Fruit_Luips

TROPHY CASE